Indonesia - 2019

Indonesia - 2019

There are so many ways to describe our experience in Indonesia, but certainly the most predominant thought that comes to mind is how nice the Indonesians we met were. Diane and I also concluded that it was an earnest feeling and not just because they were trying to hustle you for a few extra bucks. They just felt like truly genuine friendly people, always ready with a smile or to try to help you in any way possible.

After a long 14 hour flight from LAX to Taiwan, and then another 5 hour flight, we arrived in Bali, our final destination. We had decided to try a couple of different locations, so we chose Sanur (in the east) and Seminyak (in the west) for a few days each.

Aside from having to get accustomed to the heat, the next chore was to acquaint ourselves with the currency - the Rupiah. Here it’s easy to be a multi-millionaire, even a billionaire. With an exchange rate of $1 to 14,200 Rupiahs, you find yourself carrying around a wad of cash. The million Rupiahs shown below is worth about $69.

In Sanur, we stayed at the Diwangkara Beach Hotel. Our room had a glimpse of the ocean, but the hotel itself was right on the beachfront. Getting acclimated to the temperature and the humidity on top of a nine hour change was not easy (both temp/humidity was in the high 80’s).

From Sanur, we took a fast ferry to Lembongan that took about one half hour to make the crossing. After arriving, we rented a scooter and promptly met a young London couple (Rosie and Joe), who we relied on to navigate our way through Lembongan and Ceningan (a smaller island adjacent to Lembongan connected by a narrow bridge).

With Joe and Rosie in the lead, we rode up and down wild and treacherous roads that we would not have attempted on our own. Some of the roads were nothing more than gravel and crevices. We were all amazed at how well the scooters performed.

The Blue Lagoon in Cenangan is spectacular. 

The harbor area in Lembongan.

After a few days in Sanur, we moved to a hotel on the west side of Bali in the Seminyak area called the Bali Agung Village Hotel. The Seminyak area we found to be much more busy and ttouristy, attracting more of a party crowd.

From our hotel, we got a driver (Nyaman) to take us on a day trip. We visited a Luwak coffee plantation (Lembah Amerta), the (royal) Pura Taman Ayun temple, then the Ala Kedaton monkey sanctuary and lastly, the Pura Tanah Lot temple, situated right on the ocean. 

Kopi Luwak, as it’s called is made by having a civet (an animal in the cat family) eat the coffee cherries. After the beans are digested and pooped, the clumped beans are cleaned and processed much the same as any other coffee. The resulting coffee is delicious (and expensive).

After nearly a week in Bali, next on the agenda was a flight to Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo (we had to change planes in Surabaya). Kalimantan is one of two places in the world where orangutans can be found.

2018 - Last Trips of the Year

Amsterdam 

In late November, we made a quick trip to Amsterdam, hoping not to encounter the approaching winter weather. As it turned out, we had relatively good weather for the two weeks we were there.

For the most part, we hung out with Meredith and Elliot, and helped out with Isla and Freya. Even though it hadn't been long since we last saw them, lots of growth and changes were evident, particularly with Freya.

Freya is six months old. She's quick to smile and very inquisitive.

Isla loves to help out in the kitchen. She cuts up vegetables and above is helping mom with a cake.

Isla loves to draw and is learning to write. You can speak to her in Dutch or English - she speaks both.

Mexico

After being in Amsterdam for a little over two weeks, we flew back to Los Angeles, stayed overnight near LAX, and the following day flew to Cancun. From the cool weather of Amsterdam to 80 degree weather was a welcome change.

We come to the Yucatan nearly every year. The first week we stay at the Omni and manage to do very little, while the other week we use to explore this beautiful and wild peninsula.

View from our balcony.

The sunrise brings early morning spectators to the beachfront. 

After our week at the Omni, we were ready to make a move. We had heard from other folks about an interesting island with lots of nature with a laid-back lifestyle. We needed to investigate. 

We took the city bus from the Omni into Cancun's bus depot, known as the ADO. From there, we bought tickets on a long range bus and headed to Chiquila, a drive of about three hours. From Chiquila it was a twenty minute ferry ride to reach Isla Holbox.  

The small town in Holbox looks very Caribbean. 

Brightly painted storefronts and no paved streets. Only delivery cars, golf carts and bikes are allowed on the streets. 

The water was warm and shallow. 

Evening sunsets brought the crowds from nearby hotels.

One of the two main thoroughfares in town.

We had hoped for some really special tacos at this small stand but we were disappointed. Very mediocre.

The town has a number of whimsical and colorful murals done by various artists.

Although there are a number of restaurants and bars, you don't come here for the nightlife.

A children's Christmas program at the town's amphitheater was cute and entertaining.

After our stay at Isla Holbox, we took the ferry back to Chiquila. This time, instead of taking the bus, we found a shuttle service that turned out to be quicker and cheaper. 

Once in Cancun, we headed to our jungle hideaway hotel (in the middle of Cancun) where we've stayed a number of times. It's relaxing and close to the bus station where we needed to be in the morning to go to the airport. It was time to say "Adios" to Cancun.

Wild Animal Sanctuary in Salinas (Monterey Zoo)

Vision Quest Ranch - a.k.a. Monterey Zoo

Our friends, Mike and Venessa, wanted an African experience without having to fly all the way to Africa, so we proposed an overnight stay at Vision Quest Ranch in Salinas, now known more as the Monterey Zoo.

We met at their house in Morro Bay since Mike had volunteered to drive. Once on the road, it was a straight drive north on 101 for about two hours. Along the way, we stopped at Hahn Winery, one of the Santa Lucia Range wineries. Their tasting room has panoramic mountain views of the Gabilan Range on the east side of 101. We enjoyed their wines, particularly the Cabernet Savignon, of which we purchased a couple of bottles.

We got to the ranch by 3pm and were able to check right in. We had tent/cabins that overlooked the sandy area where the elephants, water buffalos and a solitary zebra hung out during the day. We found out later, that the zebra befriended the alpha elephant "Butch". They hung out together during the day. 

Our cabins were rustic looking on the outside, but lacked little once inside. King sized beds, hot showers, refrigerators, robes and coffee makers made the Salinas "jungle" very manageable. Breakfasts were brought to our cabins at 9a.m.

View of Mike and Venessa's cabin from our cabin.

Mike and Venessa's cabin had a superb view of the spot where the elephants like to hang. Perhaps it had something to do with food? 

The zebra and his buddy, Butch, enjoying mid-afternoon snacks.

The cabins were quite comfortable. In the evening, the four of us got together for dinner.

Diane and George with Butch looming large behind us. The elephant handlers have you feed them carrots and slices of apples. Butch waits until you put enough carrots and apple slices in his trunk - he's thinking efficiency.

Mike and Venessa posing with Butch.

Butch was all to happy to show off his mouth full of teeth in trade for a few nuts. 

This mountain lion really wanted to make "friends" with a little girl on our tour. I'm sure the girl would have been dinner or perhaps a mid-afternoon snack had she been on her way to grandma's house when she encountered this mountain lion.

I recall that our guide told us these two tigers were good friends. They were fun to watch. 

There was a very thick piece of glass separating this female lion from us. Although the lion looks very serene and tame, as soon as a little girl in our tour approached, it became visibly ready to pounce on her. As she got closer, the lion went ballistic, clawing ferociously at the glass, hoping to get tender morsels for lunch. In the background, her brother is visible on his perch.

After our tour of the wild animals, it was time to go home. 

We were home by early evening, in time to to experience yet another lovely sunset in Shell Beach.